Jay vegetarianism is a strict form of vegetarianism/veganism. Participants don’t eat meat, fish, dairy or eggs and avoid certain pungent ingredients like onion and garlic. In this post, we’ll delve into the world of Jay vegetarianism, the cuisine, and what to expect from Jay restaurants. Visiting a Jay restaurant in Southeast Asia is a must for a vegan but knowing what to expect beforehand is always a plus.
No, I’m not about to forego my beloved onions and garlic but I have found Jay vegetarian restaurants to be a lifesaver while travelling. I posted recently about the Mah Song at the Phuket Vegetarian Festival. (Read all about it here.) The Festival Processions were incredible but the main reason I went was for the food. While called a “vegetarian” festival, the food is vegan with the absence of pungent ingredients like onion, garlic, leek, and chive. They say these little culprits can throw your inner zen off balance, but don’t go sharing that with my therapist, or she might prescribe “Jay” as a remedy.
Dining at Jay Restaurants
You might be thinking, vegan food without garlic? But I am telling you it is delicious. Jay cuisine is a fusion of Chinese and Thai flavours. The first time I went to a Jay restaurant I had no idea what to expect. I was a little alarmed when everything on my plate was cold bar the rice. No need for alarm. The cooking is usually done early in the morning and remains available throughout the day, buffet-style. Customers pick and choose what they want from trays displayed on the counter. There is often an à la carte menu too so if you want hot food you can order off that. Once I realised the food wasn’t supposed to be hot I was fine ordering from the buffet especially after I only paid 50Bhat (~€1.50). Jay food is very affordable and great for a backpacker’s budget.
The Meaning Behind “Jay”
The term “Jay” originates from the Chinese word “Jie,” which means purification or cleanse. In the context of the Phuket Vegetarian Festival, this cleanse is to honour the Tao 9 Emperor Gods, believed to keep worshipers healthy and safe. It’s a practice that is over 1,000 years old but newer to Thailand, arriving in the 19th century. Think of this if you have food safety concerns about the cold buffet. You’re going to be grand 99% of the time and if you’re not, you’ll have a story to tell.
When I first set foot in Asia, I used to worry about “clean food” and ice, but it’s no longer an issue for me. Sure, I’m not going to lick a plate that a rat did a little jig over, but I’m also not going to ask a server at a 5* hotel, “Do you wash your ice?” Yes, I actually overheard a woman asking that in a fancy hotel in Ho Chi Minh City. The server, quite perplexed, did not have a sink full of ice cubes floating in Fairy washing-up liquid. Trust your gut but don’t let it keep you from delicious food.
Meat Substitutes Beyond Imagination in Jay Vegetarianism
Jay vegetarianism is more than just a dietary choice; it is a way of life rooted in Buddhist philosophy. The core principles of Jay vegetarianism include compassion, purification and mindfulness. This means carefully considering the ingredients used in cooking and ensuring that they adhere to Jay principles.
Jay restaurants and street stalls during the Vegetarian Festival offered meat substitutes that astounded me with their realism. Bean curd/tofu sheets create a crispy albeit salty pork belly. Seitan, which many people don’t realise was created in China (called miànjīn) in the 6th century is called mee kueng in Thailand and is used for chicken. There’s tofu in every shape and size, sausages, “beef”, “pork”. And there are stalls run by young entrepreneurs selling vegan fried pizza, vegan doughnuts, and croffles. I even had a plate of vegan chicken rice with the tofu chicken shaped into a chicken leg. Who needs to eat meat when you have it all here? I’m still thinking about the fired Jackfruit “chicken” Panang pizza I had on days 1, 2, and 3 of the festival.
Finding Jay Vegetarian Restaurants
To find a Jay stall or restaurant in Thailand, look out for yellow and red flags with เจ on them. It looks a little like a 17. The restaurants are often found close to Temples. There are a ton listed on Happy Cow but be aware that the opening times here can be wrong so check the reviews for more info.
Some of my favourite Jay restaurants I have visited outside the Phuket Festival are:
- Nong Jay – Phuket
- Vegan Station – Phuket
- Aroi Vegetarian – Bangkok
- Vegie House – Bangkok
We could all learn a thing or two from the principles of compassion, mindfulness, and sustainability that underpin Jay vegetarianism. Especially when you consider the colossal impact of meat consumption on our health and the planet. So, go ahead, and share your favourite Jay restaurants in the comments – let’s spread the Jay love far and wide!
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